KR20210113733A - Smart shoes unit enabling foot pressure measurement by tensile method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure in a tensile method. According to the present invention, a sensing unit of a sensor unit is lengthily disposed across the width of the sole so that a foot pressure applied through a wearer's sole can act and a connection part of the sensor unit is fixed through connection to a connection part of a circuit block. Accordingly, even when the wearer's foot pressure is biased to the left and right during walking, unlike the prior art in which only a portion where the pressure is biased and applied is sensed when a plurality of piezoelectric sensors are installed, the sensing part of the sensor unit formed in a single unit is deformed and the magnitude of an electrical output signal corresponding to deformation of the sensing part of the sensor unit is calculated by a relational expression with load, thereby providing an effect of accurately measuring the magnitude of the foot pressure even with a simple configuration.

Description

Smart shoes unit enabling foot pressure measurement by tensile method

The present invention relates to a tensile-type smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure, and more particularly, a tensile force capable of measuring foot pressure with an improved structure so as to accurately measure the dynamic pressure level during walking or the body weight in a stationary state. It relates to a smart shoe unit of the method.

Shoes are one of the most used necessities in our daily life. As described above, energy harvesting technology or gait pattern analysis technology using shoes has been developed due to the frequency of use of shoes, but most of them have a complex structure and low efficiency, so many improvements are required until they are manufactured into actual products.

In particular, the conventional shoe for measuring foot pressure is configured so that a sensor inserted into the insole can check the pressure signal transmitted from the sole when walking. Although it is possible to compare changes in the distribution of foot pressure in the walking or stationary state due to the difference in It has the disadvantage that it is impossible to measure by level.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication Registration No. 10-1658308 Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1576609

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is a tensile-type smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure that enables precise measurement of dynamic pressure during walking or weight in a stationary state. is intended to provide.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided a smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure, a shoe in which a circuit block is installed; and a material whose impedance or capacitance is changed by deformation to enable sensing of static deformation, and is made in the form of a ribbon or fiber bundle, and the wearer's foot width so that deformation is made by the load of the wearer of the shoe A sensing unit disposed elongately along at least one of a width direction covering the wearer's foot length and a length direction covering the foot length of the wearer, and a connection unit connected to both sides of the sensing unit and electrically connected to a circuit block installed in the shoe Thus, the sensor unit for transmitting an electrical signal according to the degree of deformation corresponding to the load of the shoe wearer to the control unit of the circuit block; characterized in that it comprises a.

When the sensor units are arranged long in the width direction to cover the wearer's foot width, a plurality of sensor units are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the shoe, and when arranged long along the wearer's foot length, the width of the shoe It is preferable to arrange a plurality of them at intervals along the direction.

The sensing unit of the sensor unit is preferably disposed between an insole and a midsole of the shoe.

The smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure according to the present invention having the configuration as described above is arranged long across the width of the sole so that the body part of the sensor can act on the foot pressure applied through the sole of the wearer, and the sensor is connected As it is fixed through connection to the connecting part of the additional circuit block, even when the foot pressure is biased to the left and right when the wearer walks, when a plurality of piezoelectric sensors are installed as in the prior art, only the part where the pressure is biased is sensed Rather, the body part of the sensor consisting of one unit is deformed and the magnitude of the electrical output signal corresponding to the deformation is calculated using the relational expression with the load, so that the size of the foot pressure can be accurately measured even with a simple configuration. to derive the effect

1 is a perspective view of a smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view IIII of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is a ⅢIII sectional view of Figure 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view IV IV of FIG. 2 .
5 is a view for explaining an arrangement structure of a sensing unit constituting a sensor unit employed in an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a view for explaining the configuration of a circuit block employed in an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a bottom view of a coupled state between an insole and a sensor unit employed in a tensile type smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a view corresponding to an enlarged portion of FIG. 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, in order to clarify the understanding of the present invention, descriptions of well-known techniques for the features of the present invention will be omitted. The following examples are detailed descriptions to help the understanding of the present invention, and it will be of course not to limit the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, equivalent inventions performing the same functions as the present invention will also fall within the scope of the present invention.

In addition, in the following description, the same identification symbols mean the same configuration, and unnecessary redundant descriptions and descriptions of well-known technologies will be omitted. In addition, the description of each embodiment of the present invention that overlaps with the description of the technology that is the background of the invention will also be omitted.

On the other hand, prior to a detailed description of the present embodiment, a brief description of the structure of the shoe is as follows.

That is, the shoe consists of several components, but largely consists of an outsole in contact with the bottom surface, an insole in contact with the wearer's foot, a midsole disposed between the sole and the insole, and an ankle of the wearer. and an upper that covers the remaining portion except for the upper and a tongue member disposed inside the upper to protect the foot of the wearer. In the present embodiment, the inner portion of the upper (the portion in contact with the wearer's foot) is referred to as a lining.

Hereinafter, a smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view IIⅡ of FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 is a sectional view ⅢⅢ of FIG. 2 , and FIG. is a sectional view IV and IV, and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the arrangement structure of the sensing unit constituting the sensor unit employed in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a circuit block employed in an embodiment of the present invention is a drawing for

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the smart shoe unit of the tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention is a shoe 1 mainly worn when walking in daily life and the shoe 1 It is installed and made to include a sensor unit (2) that can precisely measure the walking pattern or weight of the wearer of the shoe (1).

The shoe 1 is provided with a circuit block 3 for receiving the signal transmitted from the sensor unit 2 and calculating the distribution or size of the foot pressure. The circuit block 3 is, as well shown in FIG. 6 , a connecting part 31 to which the sensor unit 2 is connected, and the signal of the sensor unit 2 transmitted through the connecting part 31 . A control unit 32 for receiving input and applying a control command for analyzing the wearer's gait pattern or precise weight measurement, and a calculation unit 33 for calculating the distribution or size of foot pressure based on the control signal of the control unit 32 and the An output unit 34 for outputting the calculated result based on the control signal of the control unit 32 may be included.

Here, the output unit 34 may be configured to output light or sound, and when a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a signal to the circuit block 3 is provided, the wearer's mobile phone terminal or manager in a wireless communication method Of course, it can be configured to transmit the data output to the server.

The sensor unit 2 includes, for example, a material whose impedance or capacitance is changed by deformation, such as PDMS (acrylic polymer) containing an electrically conductive material such as carbon black (electrically conductive material). To enable sensing, it is preferable to be formed in a long ribbon or fiber bundle form.

This sensor unit 2, as well shown in FIG. 5, is arranged long along the width direction to cover the foot width of the shoe wearer so that deformation in the width direction of the shoe 1 by the load of the shoe 1 wearer The sensing unit 21 and the sensing unit 21 are respectively connected to both sides and are made to include a connection unit 22 electrically connected to the circuit block 3 installed in the shoe 1, and the weight of the shoe wearer An electrical signal according to the degree of deformation of the sensing unit 21 corresponding to that is transmitted to the control unit 32 of the circuit block 3 .

On the other hand, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, the sensing unit of the sensor unit 2 is disposed elongated along the width direction covering the foot width of the shoe wearer and is preferably arranged in plurality at intervals along the length direction of the shoe, For example, it may be arranged to be elongated along the longitudinal direction covering the foot length of the shoe wearer, and may be configured to be arranged in plurality at intervals along the width direction of the shoe.

As shown in FIG. 5 , in the smart shoe unit of the tensile type capable of measuring foot pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, the sensing unit 21 of the sensor unit 2 senses the sole of the wearer's sole. It is arranged long across the width of the sole of the foot so that the foot pressure applied through it can act, and the connection part 22 of the sensor unit 2 is fixed through being connected to the connection part 31 of the circuit block 3, Even when the wearer's foot pressure is biased to the left and right when walking, when a plurality of piezoelectric sensors 2 are installed as in the prior art, only the portion to which the pressure is biased is not sensed, but a sensor unit 2 consisting of one unit 2, the sensing unit 21 is deformed in a tensile manner as shown in the enlarged part of FIG. 2, and the magnitude of the electrical output signal corresponding to the deformation is calculated using the relational expression with the load. It has the advantage of being able to measure accurately.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 well, the sensor units 2 exhibiting these advantages are preferably arranged in plurality at intervals along the length direction of the shoe 1 . According to this embodiment, it is possible to calculate the size of the foot pressure of the portion where each sensor unit 2 is installed, and eventually, the wearer applied to the entire sensing unit 21 by adding a load corresponding to the calculated foot pressure of each portion. It is possible to precisely measure the weight of the wearer, as well as to analyze the distribution of foot pressure in the longitudinal direction of the shoe 1 to precisely analyze the wearer's gait pattern.

And, the sensing unit 21 of the sensor unit 2, as well shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the wearer's load is smoothly transmitted to the sensing unit 21 side through the insole 11. It is preferably disposed between the insole 11 (insole) and the midsole 12 (midsole) of the shoe 1 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the sensing unit 21 may be configured in an embedded form inside the insole or may be configured in an embedded form inside the midsole.

In addition, the sensor unit 2 employed in this embodiment is provided between the sensing unit 21 and the connection unit 22 , and a connection unit exposed to the outside through the lining 131 of the shoe 1 . (23) is included. Here, the connection part 23 serves to extend the length of the sensing part 21 to the part where the circuit block 3 is located, and is formed integrally with the sensing part 21 and is lining as shown in FIG. It is preferable to be disposed in the inner space of (131).

On the other hand, as an example of the sensor unit 2 that senses static deformation based on the impedance or capacitance change, silicon to which a functional material (Carbon black, Graphene nanoplatelets, ZnO nanorods, AgNWs, Graphene Oxide, CNT, etc.) is added Or a flexible sensor made of an acrylic polymer (PDMS, polydimethylsiloxane).

As a representative example, when a functional material such as carbon black is used, a physical quantity is measured based on the piezoresistive effect. The piezoresistive effect is largely due to two mechanisms: the tunneling effect and the destruction and formation of the conduction path. In this embodiment, in the process of the flexible sensor being stretched and contracted, the existing conduction path is destroyed or a new conduction path is formed, so that the conduction in the sensor is A mechanism for changing the number of pathways, that is, a mechanism for destruction and formation of conductive pathways, was applied.

In addition to the above mechanism, the driving mechanism of the functional sensor includes a resistance change mechanism based on the microcontact-reversible effect of silicon rubber filled with a conductive solid (or powder), and a sensor element and physical mechanism by combining the piezoelectric polarization of a material with the semiconductor properties of the material. There are piezotronic mechanisms that enable active interactions between stimuli.

In order to improve the sensitivity of these sensors to deformation caused by environmental factors such as static load and temperature, there is a method of mixing zinc stannate (ZnSnO3) nanocubes. Since the number of effective conduction paths inside the sensor 2 can be effectively changed when the material is formulated, the sensitivity of the functional material-based sensor can be greatly improved.

As shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. 1 , the sensing unit 21 of the sensor unit 2 includes Carbon black, Graphene nanoplatelets, ZnO nanorods, AgNWs, and Graphene as described above to facilitate detection of electrical signals due to deformation. It is made of a silicon-based or acrylic-based polymer material including at least one of oxide and CNT.

The shoe 1 employed in this embodiment includes a tongue member 14 that covers the instep of the wearer's foot, and the tongue member 14 includes a cover part 141 that covers the instep and the cover part. It is bent from 141 so that one end is detachably coupled to the upper 13 (UPPER) part of the shoe 1 and includes an installation part 142 in which the circuit block 3 is accommodated.

Here, it is preferable that a coupling means such as a Velcro 142a is provided in the installation part 142, and a coupling part to which the Velcro 142a can be coupled is also provided in the corresponding upper 13 part. desirable.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, the circuit block 3 is installed in a portion other than the cover portion 141 or the lining 131 of the upper 13 that is in contact with the wearer's feet, that is, the installation portion 142. , it is possible to solve the inconvenience of wearing due to the installation of the circuit block 3, as well as the installation part 142 is configured to be detachably coupled to the outer surface of the upper 13, so that it is installed at the time of a knot such as a shoelace It has the advantage of being able to perform the knot work without causing interference by the part 142 .

Hereinafter, a smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7 .

7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a smart shoe unit of a tension type capable of measuring foot pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the lining 631 of the shoe includes a conductive line 5 installed so as to electrically connect the connecting portion 42 of the sensor unit 4 and the connecting portion of the circuit block.

Here, the conductive line 5 may be implemented in the form of a wire or a ribbon like the sensing unit 41 of the sensor unit 4, and the lining 631 has an eyelet 631a such as a hole for fixing a shoelace. ) is provided.

In the present embodiment, the eyelet 631a is simply implemented in the form of a through hole formed in the lining 631, but the present invention is not limited thereto. is of course

The connection part 42 of the sensor unit 4 penetrates the eyelet 631a (eyelet) of the lining 631 and is not only electrically connected to the conductive line 5, but also mechanically firmly fastened to the sensing part ( 41) can be effectively deformed by foot pressure during walking.

This embodiment having such a configuration suppresses the deformation of the sensing unit 41 of the sensor unit 4 by disturbances other than foot pressure caused by the wearer's walking, that is, by disturbances such as ankle twist or gait distortion, The connection part 42 is fixed to the lining 631, which is a position as close as possible to the part on which the walking foot pressure acts, so that the sensing part 41 of the sensor unit 4 is deformed when the walking foot pressure acts relatively completely, so that the wearer It has the advantage of being able to precisely measure the dynamic pressure level during walking or the weight in a stationary state.

Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a combined state of an insole and a sensor unit employed in a tensile type smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a diagram corresponding to the enlarged part.

In this embodiment, the lining-side conductive line 813 is installed to electrically connect the connecting portion 92 of the sensor unit 9 and the connecting portion of the circuit block to the lining of the shoe.

And, the insole 71 of the shoe is, as well shown in FIG. A pair of edge portions 712 are included.

A seating groove 711a in which the sensing part 91 of the sensor unit 9 is seated is formed between the pair of edge portions 712, so that each edge portion 712 has the seating groove 711a. It has a relatively protruding shape due to the formation of

Each of these edge portions 712 includes an insole-side conductive line 713 connected to the lining-side conductive line 813 so that the connection portion 92 of the sensor unit 9 is connected to the respective edge portion 712 . ) to be connected to the insole-side conductive line 713 through which the sensor unit 9 and the circuit block are connected.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, only the portion of the insole 71 where the walking foot pressure of the wearer fully acts by fixing the connection portion 92 of the sensor unit 9 to the edge portion 712 of the insole 71 Since the sensing unit 91 of the sensor unit 9 is configured to be deformed in a tensile manner as shown in FIG. It has the advantage of being able to more precisely measure the dynamic pressure level or body weight in a stationary state.

The connection portion 92 of the sensor unit 9 is formed to have an outer diameter larger than the hole so as to be coupled to the hole of each edge portion 712 in an interference fit manner, so that it is attached to the insole 71 of the sensor unit 9. It makes it possible to conveniently and efficiently perform binding and separation operations.

For example, if the connection part 92 is loosely fastened to the edge part 712, the deformation value due to walking and weight may not faithfully reflect the original load. It may be configured to be firmly fixed to the edge portion 712 by including the configuration as shown in FIG.

That is, by having a larger outer diameter than the hole of the edge portion, the configuration related to the connection portion coupled to the hole in an interference fit manner is not limited to the example shown in FIG. Of course, it can be implemented in a configuration that can be snap-coupled together.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, this embodiment and the drawings attached to this specification only clearly show a part of the technical idea included in the present invention, and the drawings included in the specification and drawings of the present invention It will be apparent that all modifications and specific embodiments that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical spirit are included in the scope of the present invention.

1:Shoes 11:Insoles
12: midsole 13: upper
131: lining 14: tongue member
141: cover portion 142: installation portion
142a: Velcro 2: Sensor unit
21: sensing unit 211: sensing layer
212: electrode layer 22: connection part
23: connection part 3: circuit block
31: connecting unit 32: control unit
33: arithmetic unit 34: output unit

Claims (10)

shoes on which circuit blocks are installed; and
It is made by including a material whose impedance or capacitance is changed by deformation so that the static deformation can be sensed, and it is made in the form of a ribbon or fiber bundle, and the width of the wearer's foot so that deformation is made by the load of the wearer of the shoe A sensing unit disposed elongately along at least one of the width direction covering the width direction and the length direction covering the foot length of the wearer, and a connection unit connected to both sides of the sensing unit and electrically connected to the circuit block installed in the shoe, , a sensor unit that transmits an electrical signal according to the degree of deformation corresponding to the load of the shoe wearer to the control unit of the circuit block; a smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure, characterized in that it comprises a. According to claim 1,
The sensor unit is arranged in plurality at intervals along the length direction of the shoe when arranged long in the width direction to cover the wearer's foot, and in the width direction of the shoe when arranged long along the length of the wearer's foot A smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure, characterized in that a plurality of them are arranged at intervals along the. According to claim 1,
The sensing unit of the sensor unit is a tensile type smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure, characterized in that it is disposed between an insole and a midsole of the shoe. According to claim 1,
The sensing unit of the sensor unit includes a silicon-based or acrylic-based polymer material including at least one of Carbon black, Graphene nanoplatelets, ZnO nanorods, AgNWs, Graphene Oxide, and CNT. shoe unit. According to claim 1,
The sensor unit is provided between the sensing part and the connection part, and a connection part exposed to the outside through the lining of the shoe. According to claim 1,
Conductive line installed on the lining of the shoe to electrically connect the connection part of the sensor unit and the connecting part of the circuit block;
A tensile type smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure, characterized in that the connection portion of the sensor unit is electrically connected to the conductive line through an eyelet of the lining. According to claim 1,
The lining side conductive line is installed on the lining of the shoe to electrically connect the connection part of the sensor unit and the connecting part of the circuit block;
The insole of the shoe is,
a contact portion disposed opposite to the sole of the wearer's sole to be in contact; and
A pair of pairs of which are disposed opposite to the midsole and have seating grooves on which the sensing unit of the sensor unit is seated, which are relatively protruded due to the formation of the seating grooves, and are provided with insole-side conductive lines connected to the lining-side conductive lines, respectively. It is possible to measure foot pressure, characterized in that it is configured to include edge portions so that the connection between the sensor unit and the circuit block can be made by passing the connection portion of the sensor unit through each edge portion and being connected to the insole-side conductive line. Tension type smart shoe unit. According to claim 1,
A tensile type smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure, characterized in that the connection part of the sensor unit is formed to have an outer diameter larger than the hole so as to be coupled to the hole of each edge part in a force-fit manner. According to claim 1,
A smart shoe unit capable of measuring foot pressure, characterized in that the connection part of the sensor unit includes a snap coupling part coupled to the snap coupling part in a force-fitting manner when a snap coupling part is provided on each edge part. According to claim 1,
The shoe includes a tongue member for covering the instep of the wearer, wherein the tongue member is bent from the cover section for covering the instep and the cover section so that one end is detachably coupled to the upper portion of the shoe and the A smart shoe unit of a tensile method capable of measuring foot pressure, characterized in that it comprises an installation part in which the circuit block is accommodated.

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